Nello Fantozzi

NELLO FANTOZZI, age 86, Beloved husband for 62 years of Maria (nee DiPadova), loving father of Frank Fantozzi (wife Paulette, nee Capretta) and James Fantozzi (wife Karen, nee Simbartl), devoted grandfather of Katerina DiFranco (husband John), Anthony Fantozzi (wife Kiley), Nicole Fantozzi and Natalie Fantozzi, great grandfather of Luca and Carmen, loving son of Sabatino and Anna Marie (nee Lustri) Fantozzi (both deceased), beloved brother of the following deceased: Gino (wife Filomena) Fantozzi, Carmine Bisegna (husband Silvio), Eugenia Bisegna (husband Isonzo) and Giuseppina Fantozzi, dear brother-in-law of Mario DiPadova (deceased), Rita Velotta (husband Frank, deceased), John DiPadova (wife Debbie), Joe DiPadova (deceased) (wife Ellen), Graziano DiPadova (wife Mary) and Claudio DiPadova (wife Jeannemarie), loving uncle and great uncle of many.

Nello was born in Capistrello, Italy. He immigrated to the United States in August 1955. He arrived in Pittsburgh with his father, to live with his aunt, Anna DiMarco, at the age of 16. After a few years, he followed his brother Gino to work in Cleveland. He worked as a construction laborer throughout the city. In Cleveland, he met the love of his life, Maria DiPadova. They were married on March 18th, 1961. With Maria by his side, Nello had many passions. These included his spending time with family, staying busy with work and helping his friends. Whether it was operating a machine or simply cleaning off cement tools, Nello was always moving. He instilled a hard-work ethic into his family. He loved spending his free time enjoying the traditional things such as, playing the Italian card game scopa, making homemade sausage, playing bocce, or hunting. He loved to host his friends at his trailer for cookouts too. In the summer, you would often find Nello checking on his fig tree to find the sweetest one or enjoying a ripe persimmon. Nello always carried a smile on his face and was proud of where he came from. 

The thing that made Nello the most proud was his family. Nothing brought a bigger smile to his face than spending time with his family at his home. For family dinners he was always seated at the head of the table, served first with a plate of food, while sipping a glass of his homemade wine. He was Maria’s kitchen helper at times, typically in charge of baking homemade pizzelles or making sugo with tomatoes straight from their garden.

The last few years for Nello were not easy, but he persevered to witness some of life’s greatest blessings. What he has taught us all and the love he has shown, will greatly be missed by all who knew him. 

Entombment Knollwood Cemetery. Mass of Christian Burial 10 am Friday, September 20, 2024 at St. Paschal Baylon Church, 5384 Wilson Mills Road, Highland Heights, OH 44143. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT THE FIORITTO FUNERAL HOME, 5236 MAYFIELD RD., LYNDHURST, OH 44124 (EAST OF RICHMOND ROAD) ON THURSDAY, 3 - 7 PM.

 In lieu of flowers, contributions in Nello's memory suggested to Hospice of the Western Reserve at https://p2p.onecause.com/hwrgift/donate

 or The Helping Hands Ministry at St. Paschal Baylon Church.